We asked, you said, we did

We asked

We launched a poll inviting the community, businesses and those that work in Colindale to take part in renaming the square. The names were selected in honour of the first female RAF pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), and Colindale's close links with the RAF museum.

You said

The poll was open for four weeks and 344 people responded.

We did

Following the closing of the poll, the selected name went through a process of approval including a four-week consultation. Now approved, we are pleased to announce that the Square will now be officially named Patterson Square, after female RAF and ATA pilot Gabrielle Patterson. The Square also celebrates the contribution made by all female pilots.

Gabrielle Patterson was born 1905 and was Britain’s first female flying instructor. Gabrielle flew 30 different types of aircraft with the ATA, including the De Havilland Mosquito and Wellington bombers and left the ATA in March 1943. There are plans to officially name Patterson Square at an opening event in 2022.